Dallas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

Dallas Stair Climb History

On March 25th, 2011, Plano (TX) Firefighter John Barrett participated in the first 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb hosted by the NFFF at the First Departments Instructor Conference held in Indianapolis, IN. The following Monday, the first planning meeting was held for the inaugural Dallas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. The inaugural event recognized not only the 343 fallen firefighters of September 11th, but also the six Texas firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2011. Altogether, more than 360 firefighters from four states and eighty-nine fire departments participated in the event, raising almost $160,000 to support the families of fallen firefighters. One hundred sixty (160) volunteers and approximately 1,500 guests supported the firefighters making the climb. By all accounts, the first year's event was a success. 

In 2012, Prosper Fire Department provided a piece of WTC steel which was displayed and touched by each climber before he/she began the journey up 110 flights. An outdoor area was added to provide activities for attendees who were not climbing.Following the 2012 climb, the planning committee was restructured in order to better divide and manage responsibilities and efforts and to aid in the decision making process. In 2013, the steering committee decided to add law enforcement representation by recognizing the seventy (70) law enforcement officers killed at Ground Zero. In 2014, the committee decided to add representation for the nine (9) EMS personnel lost at Ground Zero on September 11th. Also in 2014, the event finally realized success in its efforts to hold a post-event gathering aptly titled the "Brotherhood Bash." In 2015, the climb added a second wave of climbers to represent fallen first repsonders who have passed since 9/11/2001. Each year, the event seeks to find additional ways to remember to Step Up To Honor The Fallen.